Duke took care of business on the road at Middle Tennessee this past weekend. The Blue Devils scored 28 first quarter points, and never looked back. They defeated the Blue Raiders 45-17. Four players earned helmet stickers:
BRIAN’S PICK: ALEX HOWARD
Another week, and another Duke win. Finally though, this past weekend was a convincing Duke win as the Blue Devils improved to 4-0. Other than the over-rubbered field turf causing havoc in the first quarter, Duke looked good in their tuneup in Murfreesboro before Chapel Hill College comes to town this Saturday.
With that being said, my sticker helmet will go to linebacker Alex Howard. Howard has been nothing short of a MACHINE in the first 4 games for Duke, and this past weekend was no different. Howard led the team, along with Cam Bergeron, with 8 tackles (6 of them solo). He also had 1.5 sacks. With this latest performance, Howard is halfway home to overtaking his tackle total from 2023, and has already doubled his sack output. To say Howard has been one of the best incoming transfers this team has seen and needed would be an understatement. I look for this type of performance to continue this weekend as Duke will look to RAISE HELL and RING THAT BELL for the first time since 2018.
JAMIE’S PICK: STAR THOMAS
The Duke Football Talk crew made the trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in hopes to see our Blue Devils get to 4-0 in the first season under Manny Diaz. In what could’ve been a trap game, Duke overcame a slow start, and a lengthy weather delay, to dominate Middle Tennessee State with a 45-17 win.
For this game, my helmet sticker goes to transfer running back Star Thomas. For the second consecutive week, Thomas had a huge day for Duke running the ball, rushing for 111 yards on 17 carries (6.5 yards per carry). And for the first time this season, Thomas got into the end zone two times. He rushed for all but 13 yards of Duke’s total rushing yards for the game. For his big day in Murfreesboro, Star Thomas gets my helmet sticker this week. Now we move on to that team 8 miles down the road. We want that bell back! GTHC!
JOSH’S PICK: WESLEY WILLIAMS
When Duke hired head coach Manny Diaz, they knew they were getting another defensive-minded leader for this program. And Diaz has wasted no time proving that with the defense executing at a high level for the first four games of the season. Diaz and Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Patke place high value on disruptive plays that result in QB sacks and tackles for loss. One player who has continued to impress in Duke’s fast start on defense is lineman, Wesley Williams.
This past Saturday, Williams was responsible for one of Duke’s three forced fumbles. With under 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Williams sacked MTSU QB Nicholas Vattiato, forcing a fumble and nearly a scoop and score. Williams was not done yet, as he sacked the MTSU signal caller again as the Blue Raiders were in Duke territory with under a minute left in the first half. On the season, Williams has a total of 4 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks (already 1 more than his season total from last year). Look for the defensive front to cause more chaos as Duke heads into its matchup with the team 8 miles down the road.
SCOTT’S PICK: NICKY DALMOLIN
The MTSU geme was another weird one for Duke with wild a start and a weather delay that lasted nearly two hours. The Blue Raiders took the lead really quick on their first drive; however on the second play from scrimmage for Duke, Nicky Dalmolin made a wide open catch and raced 71 yards to tie game at 7-7. The Blue Devils took control of game from that moment on. That alone would have earned him my helmet sticker, but Dalmolin did not stop there. With 1:19 left in first quarter, the graduate TE hauled in his second touchdown catch of the game to give Duke 28-10 lead. He ended the game with 4 catches for 100 yards and the 2 touchdowns. Four games into his fifth season in Durham, Dalmolin has 8 catches for 142 yards with 2 touchdowns. It is great to have his leadership back in the tight end room, and his presence is even more vital with the season-ending injury to Jeremiah Hasley.
Duke is 4-0 as they head into the Battle of the Victory Bell next week against CHC. Get your tickets if you haven’t already to show that OUR BLUE is better.
**Photo cred: GoDuke.com